Paper-feeding machine.



. I PATENTED MARS 190's. 1 880872 v K. B. FLETCHER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

PPLIOATION FILED U .1 05. A A G 4 9 BSHEETS-SHEET 1.

Er I Man/tow 76 B .Fe'tc/zer,

L C W v No. 880,872. PATENTED MAR. a, 1908.

K. B. FLETCHER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.-

APPLICATION FILED 1 AUG 905 5SHEETS-SHBET 2.

- 2. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908. N0 88087 K. B. FLETCHER.

PAPER FEEDINGMAGHINB.

APPLICATION FILED we. 4. 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Nb. 880,872. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908.

. K. B. FLETCHER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-.4, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m Irzaezzavr: K. B .fietcker,

No. 880,872. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908. K. B. FLETCHER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1905. I

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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KIMBALL BROWN FLETCHER, LANCASTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED PRINTING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE Patented. March 3, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KIMBALL BROWN This invention relates to an improvement in paper feeding machines, and consists in means for retarding and positioning the individual sheets to the guide.

Figure 1 is a top-plan view of a portion of the feeding machine, showing so much of the feeding tapes and their respective mechanism as is necessary to illustrate my invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the left-hand portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, showing the mechanism for driving the feeding tapes and also the means for operating the rolls for retarding the sheets and my improved grid for lifting each individual sheet above the tapes and feeding the sheets forward after they are released from the grip of the retarding rolls. Fig. 3 is a top-plan view of a portion of the left-hand end of the mechanism shown at the lefthand of Fig. 1, illustrating the means for driving the tapes, means for operating the grid, and means for driving the retarding rolls, the means for operating the complemental gripping rolls not being shown. Fig. 3 is a detail view partly in section showing the method of mounting the gripping-roll. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, illustrating the means for operating the grid and the gri ping rolls that co-act with the retarding rol the grid and gripping rolls being shown in their depressed or inoperative position and the retarding roll being shown in section, disassociatedfrom the means in which it is mounted. Fig. 4 is'a detail perspective view of the eccentric pin. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the bracket that carries one of the ends of the retarding roll, also the ad'usting rack inion by which the retarding rol may be a justed toward and from the lower end of the grid to take the different sizes of paper. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but taken from the righthand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, the grid and gripping rolls being shown in their de= pressed or inoperative osition, this view showing the means for l' ting and depressing the gripping rolls. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the grid elevated to lift the sheets from the tapes and showing the gripping rolls elevated to grip the sheet against the retarding rolls. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the worm and spiral "gear connection between the lower tape-roll and the retarding roll. 1

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings 1 represents a suitable framework supporting various parts of the machine, it being understood that at the top of Fig. 1, or left of Fig. 2, there is situated in practice a mechanism for separating or splitting a bundle of sheets of paper that are fed individually upon the mechanism here shown,

and further, that at the right of Fig. 3 or bottom ofFig. 1, there is in practice situated a printing mechanism.

My invention concerns only the feeding machine. I have therefore, only illustrated the feeding mechanism. The printing mechanism which would be situated at the righthand of Fig. 2 and the elevator mechanism and sheet separating mechanism which would be situated at the left-hand end of Fig. 2 in the complete machine are both omitted.

2 represents a shaft supported inside its ends by suitable bearings 3 secured to the to of the framework 1. To each end of the sha t 2 is secured an arm 4. Each arm 4 near its free end is formed with a hub 5, serving as a bearing in which is mounted one end'of a shaft 6. The free ends of the arms 4 carry a suitable table 7, upon each end of which is mounted a registering device or guide 8. The arms 4,4, constitute in effect a pivoted framework upon which various'parts hereinafter described are mounted. The table 7 1 may carry other devices, not necessary to be herein illustrated, it being understood that the printing cylinder is immediately beyond the registering devices or guides 8.

10 represents a shaft supported at its ends in bearings 11 that are formed in plates 12 secured upon the top of a so-called ridge cast ing 13, that rests upon and is secured to the rear end of the framework 1, by means of flanges 14 formed integral with the casting. The shaft 10 between its ends is enlarged as at 15, to serve as a continuous pulley.

16 represent a series of tape belts arranged on the enlarged part 15 of the shaft 10, and upon individual pulleys 16 that are rigidly mounted upon the shaft 6. A spur gear 17 I shaft 2.

upon the left-hand end of the shaft 10 meshing with other gears serves as means whereby the shaft 10 maybe rotated, such rotation occurring in the direction to drive the top of the tapes 16 from right to left in Fig. 6 in the d1- rection of the arrow or towards the printing cylinder and the registering devices 8 at the bottom of Fig. 1. The ower connection for driving the train of gearing by which the gear 17 is driven is not shown, as the same is a well-known arrangement and forms no part of my present invention. Inside and adjacent to each bearing 3 is a box or lug 20 loosely mounted on the shaft 2.

21 21 represent complemental boxes loosely mounted upon the shaft 6.

22 22 represent two rods, the upper end of each of which is carried in a bearing 20, while each lower end is rigidly secured in a bearing 21. The lower side of each rod 22 is formed with rack teeth 23, Fig. 5.

30 represents an arm formed at its upper end with a hub 31 loosely mounted on the The arm 30 near its lower end is formed with a hub 32 loosely mounted on a shaft 6. The lower end of the arm 30 and the lower end of the arm 4 serve to support the table 7. The arm 30 between the hubs 31 32 is depressed in order to clear the mechanism, see Figs. 2 and 8. Upon the shaft 2 and on either side of the hub 31 is arranged a sleeve 40, the two sleeves being connected by a neck 41 that extends around the hub 31, see Fig. 1. Upon each of the sleeves 40 is secured a series of split rings 42, each ring being rigidly clamped to the sleeve by means of screws 43, see Fig. 7. Each ring 42 at its top is formed with a split ear 44. Upon the shaft 6 and. between each pulley 16 is loosely mounted a hub 45, formed with a split ear 46. r

47' represents a series of flat metal bars bent downward at each end, each bar being formed on its under side with a thin web 48.

with a contact face 52.

The web 48 near its upper end is arranged in and pinned to an ear 44 of a hub 42, while each web 48 at its lower end is arranged in and pinned to an ear 46 of a hub 45. By this arrangement as the sleeves 40 are rotated on the shaft 42, the plates 47 will move upward and forwardly and then backward and downward together as a grid. The left-hand hub 42 is formed with rack teeth 48.

49 re resents'a lever pivoted to a lug 50 carried by the bearing 20, Fig. 3. The lever 49 at one end is formed with rack teeth 52 engaging the. rack teeth 48 of the sleeve 42. The opposite end of the lever 49 is formed 53 re resents a collar looselymounted on ment 15, and between the latter and plate 12.

This sleeve on one side carries an arm 54 formed with a contact-face 55 adapted to co act with the contact-face 52, Fig. 7. The

sleeve 53 is formed with an ear 56 to which is pivoted a sleeve 57 adjustabl secured to the end of a reciprocating 1'0 58 that is adapted to be reciprocated at predetermined times b. a cam 59. The operation of the rod 58 to t e left in Fig. 7, causes the contactface 55 to depress the contact-face 52, thus moving the rack-teeth 52 upward from the position shown in Fig. 4 to position shown in ig. 7. This movement of the rack teeth 52 rotates the hub- 42 and with it the sleeves 40 and several hubs 42 and plates 47 of the grid upward and forward from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 7. A coiled spring 60, Fig. 2, is connected at one end to a pin 61 on the lower side of the arm 30, and at its opposite end to an ear 62 on the lower side of one of the hubs 42 adjacent the hub 31. As the shaft 58 is released from the action of the cam 59 the spring 60 serves to return the grid to its initial or depressed position, as shown in Fig. 4.

70 70 represent two boxes, one arranged on each shaft 22, Figs. 1 and 5. Each box 70 on its upper side is formed with a bearing 71, serving to su port the ends of the retarding cylinder 73 t at extends on top of, over and across the tapes and grid. Each box 70 is formed on its under side with a bearing 74 to receive and su port a shaft 75. U. on each end of the sha t 75 and beneath eacl i is rigidly secured a spur gear 77, arranged to mesh with its complemental rack-23. Each end of the shaft 75 is squared as at 75 to receive a suitable wrench for rotating the shaft by which the boxes 70 and the shaft 75 and retarding cylinder 73 may be adjusted up and down on the rods 22 to any desired point,

the arrangement being such as to efiect an even and parallel adjustment of the retard-.

ing cylinder 73. Rods 22 22 and 23 are provided with graduation's to secure accurate adjustment of the rotating cylinder 73.

80 represents a sleeve arranged on the shaft 75, Figs. 1 and 3 90 90 represent two split rings each secured upon the sleeve 80 by a spline at any desired point of adjustment. A hub 91 is loosely mounted u on each ring 90. Each hub 91 is formed wit an ear 92. An eccentric pin 93' is arranged in the ear 92 and complemental ear 94 in the ring 90, by which means the axial osition of the ring 90 provides means where y the two hubs 91 maybe adjusted. Each hub 91 also carries arms 94 sup orting a retarding roll 95, the surface of w rich is :oveped with rubber or other yielding ma- The right-hand collar 42 is pivoted to a- .box 100, Fig. 6. the sha t 10, ust to the left of the enlargepinched on the shaft 123 by a nut 124, in order to hold the shaft from slipping in the box 120, the shaft 123 having a sliding action in the box 100.

' 126 represents a collar rigidly mounted on the shaft 123 below the box 100.

127 represents a coiled spring arranged upon the shaft 123, between the box 100 and the adjusting nuts 128 on the upper end of the shaft. By this means, as the bars 47 of a grid are elevated and moved forward, the

retarding rolls 95 are moved upward and forward engaging the paper and holding it against the retarding cylinder 73. The rolls 95 move at the same time as the grid in order to grip the pa er against the retarding cylinder 73 and bring the speed of the paper down to that of said cylinder.

In order to provide for the additional forward movement of the grid after the retarding rolls 95 engage the cylinder 7 3, the collar 100 and springs 127 are provided. After the rolls 95 engage the cylinder, the further n10- tion of collar 100, due to the continued mo tion of the grid, serves to compress the spring 127, thus keeping the rolls 95 in yielding engagement with the cylinder 73, thereby permitting motion of the grid independent of the motion of the rolls 95 and at the same time maintaining a substantially uniform pressure of said rolls against the cylinder.

150, Figs. 2 and 8, represents a cross-box arranged upon the shaft 6, at the left-hand end thereof. 151 represents a spiral gear on the shaft 6. 152 represents a shaft, one end of which is arranged in suitable bearings in the cross-box 150, the other end being arranged in a bearing 153, carried by the right-hand end of the retarding cylinder 7 3. 155 represents agear rigidly mounted on the lower end of the shaft 152 and meshing with the gear 151. In the box or bearing 153 is rigidly mounted a spiral gear 157, meshing with a gear 157 splined on the shaft 152,

in order to provide for the adjustment of the retarding cylinder 73 up and down. Shaft 152 is formed with a splined groove 160, adapted to engage a complemental pin or key on the inside of the gear 157. The crossboxes 150 and 153 are duplicates. The arrangement of the gears 155 and 157 with.

their complemental gears 151 and 157 is such that while the shaft 6 is driven at a high rate of speed by reason of the tapes 16, this speed is reduced through the two sets of gears referred to, so that the retarding cylinder- 73 is driven at any desired fraction of speed of the shaft 6', so that as the grid lifts the paper from the tapes and the rolls 95 force the paper into engagement with the cylinder 7 3, the latter retards the speed of the sheet, and as the sheet leaves the rolls 95 and 73, the parts are so timed that the grid gives its final forward motion and lays the forward end of the sheet properly against the guides 8, it being understood of course that the cylinder 73 turns in such a direction that its bottom is moving in the direction of the top strand of the tape, the top strand of tape and bottom of roll moving in the same direction and in the desired line of the feed of the paper.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described a way of making and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feeding individual sheets of paper, vertically and forwardly movable slats, and one or more upwardly movable rolls arranged below said means, a cylinder arranged above said means, and mechanism for operating the slats and rolls to lift a sheetfrom said means against said cylinder and position it at a predetermined point.

2. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feeding individual sheets of paper, a series of upwardly and forwardly movable slats and one or more upwardly movable rolls arranged below said means, a cylinder arranged above said means, and mechanism for moving said slats and rolls to lift a sheet from said means and hold it against said cylinder, having provisions whereby said slats impart a feeding or positioning movement to said sheet after it leaves the control of said cylinder androlls.

3. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feeding individual sheets of paper, a series of slats and one or more rolls arranged below said means, a cylinder arranged above said means and mechanism for, periodically operating said slats and rolls arranged to lift a sheet from said means against said cylinder and thereafter impart to said sheet a feeding or positioning movement.

4. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feeding individual sheets of paper, a series of upwardly and forwardly movable slats and one or more upwardly movable rolls arranged below said means, a cylinder arranged above said means and mechanism for periodically operating said rolls and slats arranged to permit the feeding action of said slats independent of said rolls.

5. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feeding indvidual sheets of 6. A paper sheet feedin machine comprising means for feeding in ividual sheets of paper, a frame-work, a series of upwardly and forwardly movable slats, and one or more upwardly movable rolls carried by said frame-work below said slats, a cylinder carried by said frame-work above said slats and means for adjusting said cylinder and rolls lengthwise of said frame-work to accommodate different lengths. of sheets.

7. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feeding invidual sheets of paper, a series of upwardly movable slats and one or more upwardly movable rolls arranged below said feeding means, a cylinder arranged above said feeding means and connections between said cylinder and feeding means whereby the latter drive the former at a predetermined relative speed.

8. A paper sheet feeding machine com prising means for feeding individual sheets of paper, a frame work, a bearing carried by each side ofthe frame-work, a cylinder carlengths of sheets.

ried by said bearings above said frame-work, a shaft carried by said bearings below the frame-Work, a roll-sup orting sleeve arranged on said shaft, ro ls carried by said sleeve and connections between said shaft and the frame-work whereby the cylinder and rolls may be positioned for different end of said frame-work, a series ofpulleysrigidly mounted onthe forward shaft, a

sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft between one or more of said pulleys, driving belts or tapes on said pulleys, a sleeve carried by the rear shaft, a series of slats arranged between and below said tapes, each slat connected by its rear end to said sleeve and at its forward end to a sleeve upon the forward shaft and means for, movm the sleeve on the rear shaft whereby a simu taneously upward and forward movement is given the said slats,

11. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feeding individual sheets of paper, a series of upwardly and forwardly movable slats, and one or more upwardly movable rolls arran ed below said means, a cylinder arranged a ove said means, mechanism. for moving said slats and yielding connections between said slats and rolls.

12. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising a pivoted frame-work, a series of driving tapes, a series of upwardly and forwardly movable slats carried by said framework between and below said tapes and means for operating said slats comprising members carried by said frame-work and a complemental part arranged to permit the swinging of the frame.

13. A paper sheet feeding machine comprising means for feedingindividual sheets of paper, a series of upwardly and forwardly -movable slats, one or more movable rolls arranged below said means, a cylinder arranged above said means, mechanism for moving said slats and yielding connections between said" slats and rolls, whereb the latter may be moved against said c'y' der and the former thereafter have an additional forward movement.

14. A paper sheet feeding machine'comprising means for feeding individual sheets of paper, a series of upwardly and forwardly movable slats, one or more movable rolls arranged below said means, rovisions for adjusting the circumferentia position of said rolls and mechanism for operating the slats and rolls. 1

In testimonyrwhereof I have afl'ixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses,

KIM BALL BROWN FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

A. C. RATIGAN, E. BATOHELDER. 

